Utility indicator



Feb. 28, 1939. c. DA VOLL 2, 0

' UTILITY INDICATOR Filed March 50, 1936 0 CITY DAIRY Co. 1z5 MAIN s11 NEWARK N).

J2 ZZ.

GRADE A MILK.

GRADEB MILK CEETI Fl ED LIGHT CREAM HEAVY CREAM ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 28, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE UTILITY INDICATOR I my 0. Da Voll, Hamburg, N. J.

Application March 30, 1936, Serial No. 71,709 z'olaims. (01. 116-135) The present invention relates to new and improved indicators. 7 The primary object of the invention resides in the provision of an indicator having means whereby certain information may be imparted fir ordering dairy products, groceries and the li e. a a

A further object is to provide an indicator having a plurality of slidable markers mounted on a trackway forming a part of the indicator including novel means by which same may be readily attached to a milk bottle or the like.

A still further object is to provide a novel form of indicating marker, the sam'e comprising spring means for supporting the indicating markers on the trackway so as tobe firmly retained at any desired position for indicating the quantity and kind of merchandise to be purchased.

The invention will be fully and comprehensively understood from-a consideration of the following detailed description'when read in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms part of the application.

In the drawing:

Fig; 1 is a perspective view illustrating the front surface of myindicator.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the indicator card showing the means for attaching the card to a milk bottle, the same being in folded position.

Fig.3 is a side elevational fragmentary view showing my indicator card attached on a milk bottle by the means illustrated in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view at an enlarged scale, illustrating particularly the novel form of indicating marker and the means by which same is supported on a track.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken on line 55 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Reference is now directed to the accompanying drawing for a more detailed description thereof and particularly to Fig. 1, in which the numeral 'Iindicates the suitable card preferably of rectangular shape and fabricated of a relatively stiff material such as cardboard or a noncorrosive sheet metal. It will be observed, after a detailed description of my utility indicator is had, that same may be adapted for use in ordering any list of commodities to be purchased. My device is intended particularly for use in ordering the daily supply of dairy products and, accordingly, the front surface of the card I bears a list of the articles or commodities to be purchased preferably arranged in a vertical column 8 centrally on the card 1.

Upon each vertical margin adjacent the column 8 is indicated the various quantities in which the several commodities are available. 5 Preferably, I employ two such quantity columns indicated by numerals 9 and III, the column 9 being intended for ordering the daily supply and the column I0 being provided to permit the ordering of an extra quantity of any one commodity. Referring to Fig. 1, it will be noted that there is positionedon each track way a marker indicating the column for the daily supply and the column for an extra quantity of any one commodity. The markers are slidably disposed on the track-ways and are moved in advance of the indicating markers I3. If desired, certain of the markers can be provided with designations, such as, extra or daily as illustrated on the markers 3Il--3I respectively.

Longitudinal tracks II and I2 are supported on the surface of the card, being disposed between the central column- 8 and the marginal columns 9 and lit. The tracks II and I2 are provided. to slidably support a plurality of indicating markers I3 so that same may be set to indicate the commodity and quantity of same required. Should the card I be fabricated of sheet metal the tracks II and I2 may each be formed by punching out a longitudinal slot so that the extruded portion of the card is offset beyond the front surface thereof, the upper end of each of the tracks II and I2 remaining integral with the card I and being bent outwardly to form the offset. In order to permit the placement of the markers I3 onto the tracks II and I2 the lower end of the tracks is out free of the card 7 and after sliding the markers I3 into place the respective ends of the tracks II and I2 may be secured to the card I by suitable means such as the spacer brackets I 4. The brackets I4, altho primarily forming a support for the tracks II and I2, also provide a stop to prevent the removal of the several indicating markers I3.

In the construction of my indicator employing a card "I fabricated of cardboard, the tracks II and I2 may be formed of suitable metallic strips secured in position in spaced relation to the surface of the card as by mounting same at each end onto suitable fixtures similar to the brackets I I. In the ordering of dairy products, such as milk, precaution is to be taken to assure that the commodity be not subjected to freezing temperatures. Accordingly, a suitable thermometer i5 is provided, the same being secured to the card I as'by cutting slits in same to form straps l6 into which the thermometer I5 may be inserted.

The indicator card 1 may be attached to a milk bottle by the means shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the same comprising a substantially U-shaped form of wire ll, the legs of which are constricted intermediate their ends at I8 to form a circular loop I9 adapted to fit over the neck of a bottle, as shown in Fig. 3. The respective ends of the wire form H are bent toward each other to form hinge members 20 by which the wire form Il may be swingably secured to the back of the card I as by affixing staples 2| into the card l1 so as to straddle the members 20. To form a hinge stop the free ends of the wire I! are bent, as shown at 22, to project vertically from the plane of the,

wire form I! so that when same is in position on the neck of the bottle, as shown in Fig. 3, the wire form I! will be held to project perpendicularly from the card I, the card 1 being thus supported in vertical position on the milk bottle.

Reference is now directed to Figs. 4, 5 and 6 wherein is shown the preferred form of fabricating the indicating markers 13. .Each of the markers I3 is formed of a single piece of fiat metallic material cut at each end to form indicator points 24. A triangular shaped area 25 intermediate the points 24 is sheared at marginal lines to form downwardly projecting lugs 26, the same being spaced from each other a distance equal to the width of the trackways II and I2. The projecting ends of the lugs 26 are bent toward each other, as shown in Fig. 6, so as to loosely surround the track. The lugs 26 thus formed provide a sliding carriage for the indicating markers l3 on the trackways H and I2. The central portion of the marker l3 intermediate the triangular cutouts 25 is provided with a pair of spaced slots 21 into which may be threadedly inserted a suitable leaf spring 28, the free ends of which are formed to resiliently contact the outer face'of the trackway II. In this fashion the marker 13 may be placed at any point along the trackway, being slidably retained at the desired setting by the pressure of the spring 28.

It is to be understood that this improvement is capable of extended application and is not confined to' the exact showing of the drawing nor to the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therein as do not affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is:

1. An indicator of the character described comprising a substantially rectangular base formed of sheet material carrying indici-a thereon, a bar-like track-way formed of a portion of said base, supported thereon at its ends'only in raised spaced relationship, a plurality of indicating markers slidable on said trackway, each of said markers comprising a strip of material having projecting lugs formed integral therewith adapted to engage with the edge portions and one face of said trackway, and spring means carried on a part of each of said markers, said spring means having concealed parts adapted to press against said trackway for retaining said markers at a selected location thereon.

2. An indicator of the character described comprising a substantially rectangular base having indicia thereon, a bar-like trackway integral at one end thereof only with said base and extending along a part of said base in raised spaced parallelism thereto, means for supporting the other end of said trackway, a plurality of indicating markers slidable on said trackway, each of said markers comprising a strip of material having ROY 0. DA voLL. 

